April 2010
Volume 51, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2010
Characterization of Spontaneous Autofluorescent Retinal Lesions in Pigmented Rabbits
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • A. S. Vilupuru
    Biological Sciences, Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California
  • C. Ghosn
    Biological Sciences, Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California
  • M. Ramos
    Biological Sciences, Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California
  • L. Ruiz
    Biological Sciences, Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California
  • S. M. Whitcup
    Biological Sciences, Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California
  • L. A. Wheeler
    Biological Sciences, Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California
  • J. A. Burke
    Biological Sciences, Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  A.S. Vilupuru, Allergan, Inc., E; C. Ghosn, Allergan, Inc., E; M. Ramos, Allergan, Inc., E; L. Ruiz, Allergan, Inc., E; S.M. Whitcup, Allergan, Inc., E; L.A. Wheeler, Allergan, Inc., E; J.A. Burke, Allergan, Inc., E.
  • Footnotes
    Support  None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2010, Vol.51, 6149. doi:
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      A. S. Vilupuru, C. Ghosn, M. Ramos, L. Ruiz, S. M. Whitcup, L. A. Wheeler, J. A. Burke; Characterization of Spontaneous Autofluorescent Retinal Lesions in Pigmented Rabbits. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2010;51(13):6149.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : Non-neovascular ARMD is characterized by drusen which are accumulations of extracellular material between Bruch's membrane and the RPE. Drusen contain lipofuscin and other fluorophores that are autofluorescent (AF). The aim of this study was to describe a rabbit model of spontaneous retinal AF lesions.

Methods: : Color and AF retinal photos (Zeiss FF 450) were obtained from both eyes of approximately 150 pigmented rabbits presenting with some form of AF lesion. From these 24 eyes were selected and grouped into 4 groups of 6 each for further evaluation and were classified as normal, small focal, large focal and large fuzzy. AF area (sq. pixels) was measured in the region of the visual streak using a custom written algorithm. Retinal thickness (µm) over the AF lesions was measured using spectral domain OCT (Topcon 3D 1000) in an area ranging from 1 to 3 mm2. Histology of the AF lesions was conducted on 1 representative rabbit from each group. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical significance is defined as p < 0.05 using the unpaired Student’s t test.

Results: : In normal retinas, area of AF and OCT retinal thickness in the visual streak were 39 ± 21 sq. pixels and 146 ± 0.7µm respectively. In the small focal AF group the lesions appeared as focal elevations beneath the RPE in both OCT and histology. AF area was 21882 ± 40800 sq. pixels and there was no decrease in retinal thickness over the lesions compared to normals (98 ± 2%; p > 0.05). In the large focal AF group, the lesions had large deposits beneath the RPE that caused thinning and elevation of overlying neurosensory retina. AF area was 28603 ± 25421 sq. pixels and retinal thickness was 78 ± 12% of normal (p < 0.05). In the large fuzzy AF group, there was RPE detachment or retinal atrophy over the lesions. AF area was 67127 ± 59520 sq. pixels and retinal thickness of 83 ± 9% of normal (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: : A pigmented rabbit model of spontaneous AF retinal lesions with a range of structural features has been identified. The morphological features of these lesions have similarities to dry ARMD. This model may be beneficial in better understanding and designing therapeutic interventions for dry ARMD.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • drusen • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) 
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